Vida (and other non MIME'rs),

The "gobblygook" you saw is because your email reader is not MIME compatible. 
Whoever sent that message probably either attached a file to the message or has
their email program configured to automatically attach their "business card" to
all outgoing messages.  It wasn't anything I sent.

The latest and best email programs (e.g. Netscape Messenger) automatically
decode MIME information and display the attachments for the the email reader. 
Someone recently sent a GIF file to the SCRoots list which was an old picture of
some children.  Because I'm using a MIME capable email reader, I saw the
pictures in the message.  Others without MIME capable email programs only saw
"gobblygook" as you call it.  There are decoder programs available which will
decode the "gobblygook" into the original file format so you can use, read, or
view it.  You can download such decoder programs from most shareware sites on
the net.  But, my recommendation is to upgrade your email program to one that is
MIME capable.  

There isn't much I can do right now to stop people from sending MIME
attachments.  All I can do is ask them not to, limit the maximum size allowed
for messages, chastise them if they do it, and banish them if they do it
repeatedly.  But, to be honest, I think that MIME, or something like it, is the
way of the future.  I'm not inclined to fight progress, at least not for long. 
Won't it be better when we can send audio and video in addition to, or instead
of, plain text?  Its comparable to the evolution from paintings to pictures to
movies to talkies to color talkies to TV to Internet to ......?

If you can't or don't want to upgrade to a MIME compatible email program, then
the next best thing is to install one of the several decoder programs
available.  If you don't want to do that, then the best thing to do is realize
that MIME messages are meant for some, but not for you.

Hope that helps,

Steve Coker


Vida G Beall wrote:
> 
> When I read the complete message I found something tagged on at the end
> that I thought might be from you.  It is gobblygook on my email....can
> you resend it in plain text format?

 >
> >eJ8+IiUCAQaQCAAEAAAAAAABAAEAAQeQBgAIAAAA5AQAAAAAAADoAAEIgAcAGAAAAElQTS5NaWNy

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